Lightning Become my Blade... (Training Thread)

[Takeshi]

Cities never sleep, a young girl decided as she awoke to the sunrise, and to the noise of speeders moving through Coruscant. Groaning at the noise and wanting more sleep, she lifted her head for a moment, before letting it land with a soft thump on her pillow. Fifteen minutes passed before she would at last sit up in bed; her eyes now somewhat adjusted to the light. Quietly she slipped off the bed and into the bathroom that was part of her quarters. As she brushed her teeth, she ran through where everything was in her new home.

The Jedi Temple

The place had been a maze when she had first arrived some days ago, but at this point, she had no trouble. She slipped out of the fatigues she typically wore to bed and into the shower.

It had been a similar routine since she had been permitted entry here; wake up, shower, and go get a mealing. Then the day was basically hers, because they hadn't yet assigned her a Jedi Master.

Yet.

Hopefully today is the day, the girl thought. She stepped out of the shower as she towelled herself and her hair dry, before letting her bangs fall into their customary position over her right eye.

A few minutes later she was dressed in robes and headed off to eat her morning meal with everyone else that lived in the giant temple. Unfortunately she had kept to herself for the most part over the past few days, but then she never did talk much until she managed to get a sense of a person's personality. Still, she ate in silence as she listened to the many conversations held by those around her while trying to consider what she would do today if she was not apprenticed under a Jedi yet.

 

[Malon]

Siri Firestorm, a Jedi Knight of the Order, strode through the halls of the Jedi Temple. Seven years it had been since her Jedi training under Haar on Ossus had concluded and now it was finally time for her to take on an apprentice of her own. She had matured greatly in the past seven years, not just in appearance, but also in personality. She was far wiser now than she was in her Padawan days.

As she continued towards the cafeteria, she spotted who she was looking for. A young girl, she had been told, was named Alma. That girl was to be her apprentice; her first apprentice. Siri stopped Alma before she could enter the cafeteria and smiled warmly.

"Good morning, Alma. My name is Jedi Knight Siri Firestorm, and today I will be taking you on as my Padawan learner." she explained.

 

[Takeshi]

The girl, Alma, turned to look over her new master; using her analytical stare to hide from her face how relieved she was that her master had finally arrived. Her first impression from her appearance alone was maturity, but with a sense of positivity and eagerness in how she moved and held herself. Hopefully she would get along well with here. Not entirely sure how she should conduct herself, Alma bowed in respect, and in acceptance. As she rose she asked with a tone that managed to sound casual, but respectful, "So, how will we start Master?"

 

[Malon]

Siri regarded her new student with a smile, happy that she was eager to begin. It brought memories back of her first day with Master Haar. She too had been eager to begin, but she had to learn patience. Siri decided that she'd turn their meeting into a lesson, just as Haar had for her.

"I want you to go into the cafeteria and eat your breakfast like you do everyday. Do not rush. Take your time and eat normally. I will be waiting for you on the floor above this one in the main training room. Meet me there when you have finished." Siri instructed.

She then turned and strolled down the hall and into a nearby turbolift, which carried her to the next floor.

 

[Takeshi]

Alma was hungry, so after her new master left, she shrugged and entered to begin eating. If she had to play the waiting game, she could manage; it only made things more satisfying once they finally happened. Silently she enjoyed listening to some of the amusing conversations that were being held, and went back for seconds.

Afterwards, she would walk calmly to the turbolift, completely at ease. She got out as the lift stopped and walked into the training room, where supposedly her master awaited.

 

[Malon]

As promised, Siri was waiting for Alma there in the main room, gazing out a viewport at the endless cityscape of Coruscant. She was in a trance-like meditation when Alma entered, but sensed her apprentice and quickly exited it to address her.

"Welcome, Alma. I understand that you are new to the Jedi Order as a whole, having arrived here only a few days ago. If this is the case, I want you to understand that it will take a while longer to train you in order to teach you everything that you must learn."

"You see, most Jedi, like myself, were raised by the Jedi from shortly after birth. This is all they've ever known. However, you have known the outside world. Have you had time to study the Jedi Code?"

 

[Takeshi]

Alma smiled; her decision to look into the Jedi during her few days here justified. "Emotion, yet peace. Ignorance, yet knowledge. Passion, yet serenity. Chaos, yet harmony. Death, yet the Force. Right?"

 

[Malon]

Though Siri was happy to finally be training a student of her own, she took the job seriously. She studied her student very carefully as Alma recited each line of the Jedi Code. She knew it surprisingly well for a person who'd only been with the Jedi a few days. So she was a quick learner... Aside from that, she seemed confident in herself. That was a good trait to have in a Jedi, yet overconfidence would prove dangerous, so Siri resolved to make sure that Alma's confidence in her own abilities remained where they needed to be.

"You are correct. I must applaud you for having that memorized, despite having been with us for such a short time. However, knowing the words is one thing; understanding them is a whole different topic. I want you to tell me what you perceive the code to mean in your own words. Only then will I know if you truly know the code."

 

[Takeshi]

Alma's confidence shrank a little; reciting was easier to her than actually composing something based on her innermost opinions and feelings. Still, she charged on, the speed fluctuating slightly as her thoughts flowed. "Well... I suppose it's saying a jedi should have emotion, but maintain control so they can think with peace in mind... try to gain knowledge but with the mindset that one is ignorant... be passionate, but with a peacefullness to it that prevents yours feelings from clouding your judgement... 'Chaos, yet Harmony' I suppose means we should accept the chaos that can haunt us and try and find harmony within it... and 'Death, yet the Force' suggests we should accept that people die, but they live on in the Force..." she left off asking if she was right; recalling that it was her interpretation. Instead she unconsciously let her eyes wander as she waited for Siri to reply.

 

[Malon]

Siri was now fully open to the Force, allowing it to draw her attention to things she wouldn't have noticed on her own. However, she didn't need the Force to see that Alma wasn't making eye contact. Her confidence must have declined. Siri remained completely focused, but inwardly felt sympathetic towards Alma.

"That was a decent interpretation for someone who has only been with us a short time. I promise, by the end of our time together, you will be able to answer that with far more confidence in your response."

Siri then turned towards the door, which slid open with a hiss.

"Follow me, we're going on a walk."

The two departed the training room and began walking down the corridors of the Jedi Temple, passing by other Jedi, some of whom were doing the very thing Siri was doing now; teaching their apprentices. Siri made sure to keep pace with Alma, so that she would be able to hear clearly whenever Siri spoke.

"Now then, what have you been told of the Force so far during your stay with us?"

 

[Takeshi]

Alma considered, "Not much, they more or less said, 'when your master is assigned to you, they'll do the explaining'. But what I feel from it... I guess I sometimes feel like everything is connected together, so does the Force bind everything together, and do Force-users manipulate these bonds by using their own connection to it?" Her confidence had come back, and this time she checked herself for the eye contact she had known she'd lacked earlier.

 

[Malon]

Siri noted her student's return in confidence. She now saw why the Jedi took in younger candidates. It was going to be hard teaching this student all the essentials. She could only hope she would succeed as well as Master Haar had with her.

"Something like that. The Force is a living energy field. It lives within all things, animate or otherwise. Even those without the ability to use the Force has it with them. We as Jedi are blessed with the power to call on the Force in our need to help others. That is our task. Jedi have a unique perception of the Force. We view it as somewhat of a friend that we can call upon to help us whenever we're in need. It even speaks to us on occasion"

As the two walked further, they reached a much smaller training room; this one with no windows. Once they had entered the room, Siri locked the doors so that they could not be disturbed by other Jedi. Unlike the previous training room, this one was much smaller and had various items scattered around it.

"Tell me, Alma. Have you ever consciously called upon and used the Force?"

 

[Takeshi]

Alma was silent as she listened to her master's explanation. Her mind went to considering deeper meanings, until she heard the question. Her eyes contracted unconsciously for a moment as she processed it before quietly nodding.

 

[Malon]

Upon hearing Alma's response, Siri motioned towards a stack of books sitting on a table in the room.

"Alright then, please demonstrate it by causing these books to float around your in a circular formation. Try not to lose focus."

 

[Takeshi]

Simple enough, Alma decided with a sigh. Quietly she shaped in her head hands that would grasp each book. She imagined them grab hold, and slowly they rose into the air. At first wobbling, but as Alma settled herself they rose more quickly, until they were level with her torso. She imagined the hands connected to bodies that were spinning around her; causing the books to likewise begin to rotate. She found a tune she liked that she hummed in her head to help her focus.

 

[Malon]

Siri had to admit, she was deeply impressed that Alma was able to use telekinesis to such a degree already. Alma's use of a song to remain focused was unique. Siri hadn't met a Jedi yet who meditated in such a way. Now was when the test really began. She had told Alma to remain focused for a reason; she wanted to test her reflexes.

Siri silently walked over and picked up a small round ball and tossed it directly at Alma. If it struck her, it wouldn't hurt, as it was made out of a rubbery substance.

 

[Takeshi]

Alma had guessed this would happen at some point in the day. She was always supscious of teachers she didn't know well; they always liked to test their students. She switched in her mind to a more upbeat song to help keep her focus, and gracefully bent over backwards while maintaining her balance to dodge the ball; causing it to soar over her stomach. The books slowed slightly, but kept going. Alma reoriented herself and the books resumed their pace.

 

[Malon]

Siri was satisfied. Not only could Alma use the Force and control it to a high degree, but she could also maintain her awareness while doing so. Perhaps her training wouldn't take as long as Siri originally suspected. Still, Alma had much to learn, and Siri had much to teach, but it was time to call it a day.

"Good work, Alma. You can place those books back in their spot now."

Siri awaited her to do so, and then continued.

"You have met all of my expectations and more, today. I want you to return to your quarters and rest. Tomorrow, meet me in the same place we met today. We will be practicing something quite different then."

 

[Takeshi]

Alma nodded; relieved to a degree. She bowed to her master and with purposeful steps, exited the training center and headed off to her room. As she reached it, she opened the door, slid in, and closed it behind her. Devestating of her robes, she went to her bag of clothing and slipped into a more form-fitting tank-top and sweats. She breathed quietly, and began humming a soft song to herself; centering herself as she prepared to practice.

--------------------

Hours later, near the middle of the night, Alma was panting heavily; banged up and obviously in pain. The wall next to the door was charred. A thump was heard as Alma passed out on the floor...

She woke up to the same noise as the day before; the speeders, the eternal noise of a city. This time however, as she tried to move, she felt the pain from last night, and was more quickly up. She dragged herself into the bathroom to repeat yesterday morning's pattern. Her shower was much longer however.

Thankfully, this seemed to have some effect on her; the bags from when she had awoken were gone, and she moved more naturally. She ate breakfast, this time drowning out the chatter of the others, and headed up to the area she had left yesterday, where she expected her Master to be waiting.

 

[Malon]

Siri was there early, and seemed to have been there for awhile, as she was again in a meditative trance. Unlike before, she did not immediately come out of it. She had sensed a disturbance in the Force the night before and was sensing it again now. She had no conclusive evidence that it was coming from Alma, nor did Alma seem very troubled when she walked in so Siri shrugged it off.

"Good morning. I trust you slept well?"

She didn't wait for Alma to respond and launched right into the day's lesson.

"Today we're going to begin to cover the topic of lightsabers. As I'm sure you're aware, the Republic, and by association, the Jedi, are at war with the Hutt Empire. Therefore, Jedi need to be skilled warriors in the event that they are put into a combat situation."

Siri motioned towards a rack of training lightsabers that had not been in the room the day before; suggesting that she had it brought here specifically for Alma's training.

"Please chose one of these lightsabers. Pretty soon you will build a lightsaber of your own, but until then, you will practice using these."